Remand period extended for cops in alleged extortion case

JOHOR BARU: The remand period for the two policemen who were arrested for allegedly extorting money from a man near the Causeway here has been extended.

Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat said the two suspects, who were arrested last Friday (April 5), were initially placed under a three-day remand until Monday (April 8) to aid in investigations.

“The remand has been extended by another day until Tuesday (April 9), which was granted by magistrate Suhaili Sapun,” he said, adding that the suspects were represented by a counsel.

The two suspects, aged 32 and 33, were reportedly arrested after a 29-year-old man lodged a police report against them.

He claimed that he was going through immigration clearance at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) customs, immigration and quarantine complex when the two policemen stopped him, claiming he had a criminal record.

The suspects allegedly extorted RM2,000 from the victim to avoid arrest and detention.

Earlier, Johor MCA Youth chief Heng Zhi Li held a press conference with the victim, who only wanted to be known as Lim, to highlight the incident.

The victim claimed to have been accompanied by one of the suspects to several ATM machines to withdraw money, even though he had stated that there was no money in his two bank accounts.

The victim resorted to pretending to have an asthma attack after withdrawing RM1,000 at a bank in Taman Pelangi and managed to escape with the help of a local couple passing through the area.